Ashington Submits Bid for UK Town of Culture 2028 — and the Town is Ready to Show the Country What It’s Made Of
The town that sent the Pitman Painters to Broadway is now bidding to become UK Town of Culture 2028 because this town has always had a story worth telling.
Ashington has formally submitted its Expression of Interest in the UK Town of Culture 2028 competition, led by Cllr Caroline Ball, on behalf of Ashington Town Council and in partnership with Northumberland County Council and a coalition of more than twenty community, arts, sports, and heritage organisations from across the town.
The competition — launched by the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) and the first of its kind for towns rather than cities — will award £3 million to its overall winner to deliver a major cultural programme in 2028. The shortlist is expected to be announced in Spring 2026, with the winner named in early 2027.
Councillor Caroline Ball is leading the bid on behalf of the Council, supported by Councillors Fox, Green, Simm, Wright and Davison. Ashington Town Council has confirmed it will act as Lead Organisation and Accountable Body, with any grant funding ring-fenced within the Council’s accounts.
“Ashington has an incredible story to tell — one of creativity, community, and resilience. I’m genuinely excited to lead this work and to bring together the brilliant organisations and people across our town who make it the place it is. This is our chance to show the rest of the country what Ashington is made of.”
— Councillor Caroline Ball, bid lead
A Town with Creative Blood Running Through It
Ashington’s creative spirit is not a recent discovery. The town’s story made it all the way to Broadway — the Pitman Painters, a group of Ashington miners who took up art in the 1930s, are exhibited to this day and became famous the world over through Lee Hall’s stage production that played London’s West End and New York. Their story is a story about what happens when working people are given access to culture. It is exactly the story this bid seeks to continue.
What the Bid Would Deliver
The bid sets out a bold vision for a festival of Ashington: a celebration of arts, culture, music, sport, people and place. Built on the solid foundations already in place, the programme would combine locally led activity with WOW-factor events.
The programme would build directly on the success of Animating Ashington, which brought world-class artists into schools and community groups and demonstrated that culture can change the community.
Culture as a Route Out of Inequality
Ashington is honest about the challenges it faces. After the mines closed, the impact went far beyond jobs — the leisure facilities built through miners’ contributions, the sporting clubs, societies and social infrastructure all struggled. Many closed. Those that survive today do so through voluntary effort and community determination.
For many families, involvement in the arts is simply not accessible — and children in the town are less likely than their peers elsewhere to learn an instrument, take dance lessons, or gain arts qualifications. That is precisely what this bid seeks to change.
Ready to Deliver
The bid is supported by an exceptional breadth of organisations already active and trusted in the town, Ashington has good bones. A world cup winning train station reconnecting the town to South East Northumberland and the wider Metro network. Venues in every ward. A new Reel Cinema complex coming to the town centre. A community woodland. A museum. A new state of the art college opening soon and a volunteer base that has shown it will turn out for the town. And a story to tell.
What’s at Stake — and What Comes Next
“Everybody deserves the chance to share their pride in the place they call home and to have access to quality art, music, dance and drama wherever they live.”
— DCMS, UK Town of Culture 2028 launch statement
The competition sits in size categories based on population. Shortlisted towns will each receive a £60,000 development grant to prepare a full application. Three finalists — one small, one medium, one large — will be selected, with one named the overall UK Town of Culture 2028 and awarded £3 million. The two other finalists will each receive £250,000 to deliver elements of their bids.
The shortlist is expected to be announced in Spring 2026. The winner will be named in early 2027. The cultural programme will be delivered in the summer of 2028.
Key Competition Dates
- Expression of Interest deadline: 31 March 2026
- Shortlist announcement: Spring 2026
- Winner announced: Early 2027
- Cultural programme delivered: Summer 2028
- Prize fund: £3 million (winner) + £250,000 each (two finalists) + £60,000 development grants for shortlisted places
Get involved
Ashington Town Council warmly invites local organisations, businesses, and residents to get behind the bid. The more voices raised for Ashington, the stronger the case we make together.
The spirit of those 1970s festival organisers — who brought world-class culture to a coal town for £2,000 by simply refusing to take no for an answer — is alive and well.
If organisations or companies want to be involved, please contact Cllr Ball caroline.ball01@northumberland.gov.uk
